Three million children in the U.S. play in tackle football programs. While many doctors and scientists have taken a look at the impact of concussions, new research by Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center studied the impact of less-serious blows to the head that are common during games.

The study included 25 players between the ages of 8 and 13 and was centered on a youth program in Winston-Salem, N.C. Each boy was outfitted with a helmet that measured the severity and frequency of head blows.

“This is important, particularly for children, because their brains are undergoing such rapid change, particularly in the age category from maybe 9 to 18. And we just don’t know a lot of about it,” Dr. Chris Whitlow, a lead researcher, told NBC News.

Researchers say their findings indicated that even at this young age, the boys were receiving pretty hard hits.

The doctors then performed MRIs on the players and determined there were some changes in the brain’s white matter, the tissue that connects the gray matter of the brain.

“We have detected some changes in the white matter,” Whitlow said. “And the importance of those changes is that the more exposure you have to head impacts, the more change you have.”

Young players who did not have concussions were also found to have been impacted by repeated hits. Brain changes were found even after a single season of playing the sport.

So far, doctors are not cautioning parents against letting their children play football since there are still some unclear areas following the study. Doctors don’t know if these changes will continue as the boys play football. They also don’t know what long-term impact the repeated blows to the head will have on the players.

Still, some parents say the sport is worth the risk — for now — because of the joy it brings to their children. Football also encourages their kids to stay on top of their grades.

Kindra Ritzie-Worthy has two sons who play football. She says they take their footballs everywhere they go. One even sleeps with his ball.

Brian Herrera attends Cottonwood High School in Murray, located in suburban Salt Lake City. He is a special needs student and has known senior Alex Hart since the pair attended junior high school.

"I'd say, 'What's up dude?' and I'd fist bump him," Hart told KSTU.

Hart and Herrera reconnected in high school and the two friends would have lunch together. They found a special connection through football. Hart is an offensive lineman for the Cottonwood Colts varsity football team.

"Every time I come off the field, I'd come off and he'd give me a hug," Hart told KSTU.

Hart went to Kailee Sandberg, Herrera’s special needs teacher, and asked if Brian could join a football class and roam the sidelines during games.

"He seems to be doing better socially, his speech is coming along better, he just is all around a happier kid, which I didn't think he could get any happier but he did," Sandberg told KSTU.

Best TD of the night! Thanks @C_WoodFootball and @TaylorsvilleHS for making this possible for Brian! #TribPreps @trevorphibbs @adonsports pic.twitter.com/KOMZECYn9u— Robyn Ivins (@partymomof5) October 14, 2016 <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Thursday night, Cottonwood (1-9) played neighboring Taylorsville (3-6). The Warriors agreed to cooperate with the Colts, and leading 35-7 at the intermission, kicked the ball to Herrera to open the second half. Hart, who had been injured, came into the game for the one play and helped create a convoy for Herrera to score.

"He's just been my biggest fan, and I've been his biggest fan," Hart told KSTU.

It didn't matter that Cottonwood lost 49-14. The real winners were Hart, Herrera, and both squads.

Does it get any better than this?!? Things like this make us proud to be Colts! #ColtsAreGreat pic.twitter.com/yiErnya2fa— Cottonwood High (@CottonwoodHS) October 14, 2016 <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

In Everett, Washington, one powerhouse team outscored its opponents 170-0 in its first three football games this season. Now other conference opponents would rather forfeit than get pummeled by Archbishop Murphy High School’s team.

"There's still unknowns. … We don't know what's going to happen next week," said Jerry Jensen, the school's athletic director.

But parents of some players at Cedar Park Christian High won't allow them to face the much bigger, stronger Archbishop Murphy, which is the next game on the schedule. Some wrote emails saying such things as, "We are in agreement that to play Archbishop Murphy would compromise the best interest and safety of the players and be demoralizing by the certain and devastating defeat."

Another wrote, "Football is a dangerous sport; however, this is an extreme and unnecessary risk that you are putting our sons in."

Some were even upset that the school didn't forfeit immediately, saying, "Please know that we will not be allowing our sons to suit up for the Archbishop game next Friday the 14th."

Joey Johnson, the athletic director at nearby Granite Falls High School, also skipped out on a game against Archbishop Murphy.

"We made a decision based on the health and welfare of our kids," Johnson said.

Stacey Morris, a parent of one of the players, agreed with the decision.

"We can't put our 5-foot-8, 125-pound quarterback up against their nose tackle who happens to be 6 feet 5 inches and weighs over 330 pounds. He's going to put that kid in the hospital," she said.

The Lapeer Lightning freshman team lined up to belt out the national anthem, much to the delight of parents in the stands. One of those proud parents, Chell Byrnes, took to social media to share her pride.

Amazing class demonstrated by Lapeer Lightning Freshmen football team!!! After we were told per the Carman Ainsworth announcer they won't be playing the pregame national anthem our team stood proud, saluted the flag and sung it themselves, our crowd stood with them for every note! Very proud to be a Lightning Mom tonight!!

Carman-Ainsworth Community Schools Superintendent Eddie L. Kindle told MLive.com that the anthem was played before the junior varsity game later that night.

"Like most schools in the state of Michigan, we choose to play the national anthem prior to the highest level of competition," he said. "That is common and typical in many communities in Michigan. We have never and will never refuse to play the national anthem."

The freshmen didn't take any of this into account. Their coach, Byran Sahr, said the players thought there was an issue with the sound system and took care of the rest from there.

"We had all lined up on the sideline like we usually do for the national anthem," he told MLive.com. "It's an incredible feeling. I've been with most of these players for three years now. They're just an awesome group of kids," Sahr said. "It makes me incredibly emotional and I don't usually get emotional."

A routine ground ball to the shortstop seemed to end it. The Wylie player picked up the grounder and flipped it to second base for the apparent out, triggering the team's celebration of the district championship.

The runner at second was never called out, and McKinney’s players continued to circle the bases. The Wylie team celebrated before realizing the runner was not called out and the game wasn't over. They scrambled for the ball but by that time three runs had scored, ending the game with a victory for McKinney.

Two Texas high school football coaches are going viral for their (team's) touchdown dance that resulted from a blooper.

Seen from the upstairs coaching booth, Childress High School assistants are running the field on the sidelines as the special teams returns a blocked field goal for a touchdown. They both stumble before the score but get up in time to hug and jump with each other after it happens.

The senior running back at Dysart High School in El Mirage, northwest of Phoenix, says he was praising God. The official and opposing coach believe he may have been taunting opponents.

Glendale coach Brian Bowman told the Arizona Republic the game was “chippy between players throughout” and felt that Banda was part of it.

“I know he got one (unsportsmanlike conduct penalty in the first quarter) when he got into it with one of our kids,” Bowman said. “They had given him a warning a couple of plays before his touchdown gave them a 28-0 lead with 4 minutes left. They gave him a warning and ejected one of our guys. It felt like taunting because it happened right after that.”

The unsportsmanlike penalty, coupled with the ejection for excessive celebration means Banda must serve a one game suspension. An appeal is being reviewed by the Arizona Interscholastic Association. The association's bylaw, however, states ejections are not subject to appeal.